Tool belt having removable carriers and method of producing same
A tool belt, and a method of producing a tool belt, includes a configuration that can be easily changed to accommodate different tools and different positions along the belt. A strap member can be configured with a plurality of loops around at least a portion of the strap and a tool carrier can be configured to be placed into some or all of the loops to provide access to tools and other implements carried within it. The strap is configured to be worn around a torso of a user, and can be secured with a buckle or other fastening mechanism.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/628,772 filed Nov. 17, 2004, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tool belt and a method of producing a tool belt, and in particular a tool belt having a removable carrier.
2. Background Art
Tool belts have long been used as a convenient way for a worker to carry a number of different tools, thereby saving time and increasing job efficiency. While some tool belts may be adequate for merely holding different tools, conventional tool belts do not provide a simple and efficient means of changing their configuration, and in particular, of changing the different tool carriers associated with them. Moreover, workers often find themselves working in inclement weather, and conventional tool belts provide little or no protection for the tools they carry.
Therefore, it would be desirable to have a tool belt that provides multiple configurations to carry different tools as needed, and which provides a fast and efficient means for changing the configuration. Moreover, it would be desirable to have a tool belt which at least optionally provided some protection for the tools it carries, for example, from inclement weather.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccordingly, the present invention provides a tool belt, and a method for producing a tool belt, that has multiple configurations. The configurations of the tool belt can be changed to accommodate different types of tool carriers in different locations on the belt. In one embodiment, the belt is made from a double-layered main body of a flexible material, and is configured with a fastener, such as a buckle, near each end. Between the layers of material is a series of pockets or slots which extend from a top edge to a bottom edge of the belt. An outer surface of the belt may have a portion of a hook and loop fastener attached to it, which, as explained below, acts as an additional mechanism to secure tool carriers to the belt.
The accessories, or tool carriers, associated with the belt include a tab, or blade-like structure which extends from the top and/or the back of the tool carrier. A back portion of the tool carrier may also have a portion of a hook and loop fastener attached to it to mate with the hook and loop fastener on the outer surface of the belt. To secure the tool carrier to the belt, the tab can be slid into any one of the slots located around the belt. In addition, the hook and loop fastener on the belt will mate with the hook and loop fastener on the back of the tool carrier to further secure the tool carrier to the belt.
The tabs can be attached to the tool carrier by being sewn on, riveted, or attached with any other fastener effective to secure the tab to the carrier. The tool carriers may be in the form of a pouch, pocket, loop, or any other structure effective to carry a tool, including carriers having a very specific shape designed to carry a specific tool. The belt can be made of heavy canvas, or other generally flexible materials. The loops may extend for the entire length of the belt, or some portion thereof. The belt itself can include one continuous length of material extending the entire length of the belt. Alternatively, the belt can be made from smaller lengths of material fastened together to form the full length of the belt. Near the ends of the belt can be a buckle arrangement, a hook and loop fastening arrangement, or other fastener effective to hold the belt around the torso of a user.
The invention also provides a tool belt arrangement including an elongate strap configured to be disposed around at least a portion of a user's torso. A tool carrier includes an elongate member attached thereto, and a receiving member is configured to receive the elongate member such that the tool carrier is disposed adjacent the receiving member. The receiving member is disposed adjacent the strap, and includes a first open end which is configured to receive the elongate member.
The first open end of the receiving member, or loop, faces generally upward when the tool belt arrangement is worn by a user. This facilitates insertion of the elongate member of the tool carrier into the loop from above the belt. The elongate member can be configured as a blade-like tab, and may be generally straight, or may include two portions disposed at an angle to each other. In such case, one portion can be configured for insertion into the loop, while the other portion extends at an angle from the first portion and is attached to the tool carrier. The blade-like elongate member can have a generally rectangular cross section, which tends to keep it from rotating after it is inserted into the loop.
The invention further provides a tool belt arrangement including a plurality of loops forming at least a portion of an elongate strap member. Each of the loops define first and second open ends. A tool carrier is configured for attachment to the strap member. It includes an elongate member configured for insertion into at least one of the loops through at least one of its respective open ends to at least partially secure the tool carrier to the strap member. In one embodiment, the tool carrier may be configured with a portion of a fastener, such as a portion of a hook and loop fastener. This portion of the fastener would cooperate with a mating portion of the fastener attached to the elongate strap member.
The invention also provides a method of producing a tool belt arrangement, which includes forming an elongate strap member to include a plurality of loops. Each of the loops defines first and second open ends, and the elongate strap member is configured to be worn around a user's torso. The method also includes providing a tool carrier including an elongate member which is configured for insertion into at least one of the loops through a respective end of the loop.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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To produce a tool belt arrangement, such as the tool belt arrangement 10 shown in
In addition to forming a strap, a tool carrier, such as the pouch 14 or the pouch 48 can be provided in the production of the tool belt arrangement. A portion of a fastener can then be disposed along an inside of the strap, while another portion of the fastener can be disposed along a backside of a tool carrier to provide a more secure attachment—see, for example,
While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A tool belt arrangement, comprising:
- an elongate strap configured to be disposed around at least a portion of a user's torso;
- a tool carrier including an elongate member attached thereto; and
- a receiving member adjacent the strap and including a first open end configured to receive the elongate member such that the tool carrier is maintained adjacent the receiving member.
2. The tool belt arrangement of claim 1, wherein the receiving member includes a generally cylindrical structure, and
- wherein the first open end faces generally upward when the tool belt arrangement is worn by a user, thereby facilitating insertion of the elongate member into the receiving member from above the receiving member.
3. The tool belt arrangement of claim 2, wherein the elongate member is generally straight.
4. The tool belt arrangement of claim 2, wherein the receiving member includes a second open end opposite the first open end and wherein the generally cylindrical structure has a length less than a length of the elongate member, thereby allowing the elongate member to pass through the first and second open ends when the elongate member is inserted into the receiving member.
5. The tool belt arrangement of claim 2, wherein the generally cylindrical structure includes a portion of a fastener disposed on a surface thereof, and wherein the tool carrier includes another portion of the fastener disposed on a surface thereof, each portion of the fastener being configured to contact the other after the elongate member has been inserted into the receiving member.
6. The tool belt arrangement of claim 2, wherein the elongate member includes a cross section defined by a first dimension and a second dimension greater than the first dimension, thereby inhibiting rotation of the elongate member after it is inserted into the receiving member.
7. The tool belt arrangement of claim 6, wherein the elongate member includes a first portion configured for insertion into the receiving member and a second portion disposed at an angle to the first portion and attached to the tool carrier.
8. The tool belt arrangement of claim 1, wherein the tool carrier includes a cover attached to thereto and having a stored position wherein access to a tool in the tool carrier is substantially uninhibited, the cover further having a use position for covering at least a portion of the tool, thereby protecting it from an ambient environment.
9. The tool belt arrangement of claim 8, wherein the tool carrier includes a pocket and the cover includes a flexible sheet structure disposable within the pocket in the stored position.
10. A tool belt arrangement, comprising:
- a plurality of loops forming at least a portion of an elongate strap member, each of the loops defining first and second open ends; and
- a tool carrier configured for attachment to the strap member, the tool carrier including an elongate member configured for insertion into at least one of the loops through at least one of its respective open ends to at least partially secure the tool carrier to the strap member.
11. The tool belt arrangement of claim 10, wherein the elongate member is generally straight.
12. The tool belt arrangement of claim 10, wherein at least one of the loops includes a portion of a fastener disposed on a surface thereof, and wherein the tool carrier includes another portion of the fastener disposed on a surface thereof, each portion of the fastener being configured to contact the other after the elongate member has been inserted into the loop.
13. The tool belt arrangement of claim 10, wherein the elongate member includes a cross section defined by a first dimension and a second dimension greater than the first dimension, thereby inhibiting rotation of the elongate member after it is inserted into one of the loops.
14. The tool belt arrangement of claim 10, wherein the elongate member includes a first portion configured for insertion into at least one of the loops, and a second portion disposed at an angle to the first portion and attached to the tool carrier such that the second portion contacts a top edge the loop into which the first portion is inserted.
15. The tool belt arrangement of claim 10, wherein the tool carrier includes a cover attached to thereto and having a stored position wherein access to a tool in the tool carrier is substantially uninhibited, the cover further having a use position for covering at least a portion of the tool, thereby protecting it from an ambient environment.
16. The tool belt arrangement of claim 15, wherein the tool carrier includes a pocket and the cover includes a flexible sheet structure disposable within the pocket in the stored position.
17. A method of producing a tool belt arrangement, comprising:
- forming an elongate strap member including a plurality of loops, each of the loops defining first and second open ends, the elongate strap member being configured to be worn around a user's torso; and
- providing a tool carrier including an elongate member configured for insertion into at least one of the loops through a respective open end.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:
- disposing a portion of a fastener on at least one of the loops; and
- disposing another portion of the fastener on the tool carrier such that the fastener portions can be brought into contact with each other after the elongate member is inserted into the loop.
19. The method of claim 17, further comprising attaching a cover to the tool carrier such that the cover can be disposed in a stored position wherein access to a tool in the tool carrier is substantially uninhibited, and such that the cover can be disposed in a use position for covering at least a portion of the tool, thereby protecting it from an ambient environment.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 17, 2005
Publication Date: May 18, 2006
Inventor: Joseph Bommarito (Petoskey, MI)
Application Number: 11/281,967
International Classification: A45F 3/00 (20060101);